‘I would’ve been on the train’: Green Line rider grateful to have avoided trolley crash, derailment

BOSTON — A Green Line rider believes her decision to take an Uber home kept her off a trolley that crashed and derailed early Sunday morning.

Five people were taken to the hospital after MBTA officials said the train collided with another train that was out of service at East Somerville station.

NTSB investigators worked all day and night to begin uncovering answers at the scene of the crash that happened around 12:30 a.m.

Boston 25 News spoke with a passenger who said she was on another Green Line train that broke down before the collision.

She believes she would’ve boarded the one that crashed had she not opted to order a ride share.

“I was on the train prior that got stuck in the tunnel. We were in the tunnel without power for an hour,” said Rachel LaBella. “I thought it was lucky I hopped off the train when I did or else I would’ve been on the train that crashed.”

LaBella is convinced the train that crashed is the one that came through after passengers on her train got off at the platform.

“If I had stayed on the platform and hopped on the next train, it would’ve been the one that crashed in Somerville,” she said.

The MBTA hasn’t said if the disabled train that was crashed into is the one LaBella had been on and referred all questions to the NTSB.

One passenger was taken to the hospital for a reported neck injury following the crash.

Four MBTA operators were evaluated at the hospital and released without being admitted.

“No information to report on the details of the accident at this point. NTSB’s investigation is in its early stages,” an NTSB spokesperson told Boston 25 News on Sunday night.

Shuttle buses were brought in to replace train service between North Station and Medford/Tufts.

It’s unclear if train service will resume in time for Monday morning’s commute.

The two derailed trolleys remained on the tracks late Sunday night as authorities continued the tedious process of cutting apart both trains.

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